All-Star weekend will be a “field trip” for Oladipo and Sabonis

The Indiana Pacers will be well represented in the NBA All-Star weekend events this year as Victor Oladipo was selected as an Eastern Conference representative and Domantas Sabonis was chosen to play in the Rising Stars Challenge as a member of Team World.

“It’s just like when your brother is going with you on a school field trip or something,” Oladipo said of having his teammate with him. “I’m excited. I’m looking forward to it.”

Oladipo, with his first All-Star selection, became the first player in the Pacers NBA history to make the All-Star team in his first season with the team. Previously, it had only been done by ABA legends, Roger Brown, Mel Daniels, Freddie Lewis and Bob Netolicky, per Fox Sports Indiana.

“It’s definitely something I’ll always remember, something that he’ll always remember,” Oladipo said of him and Sabonis going to All-Star weekend together. “Hopefully we just keep working so a lot of us are playing on Sundays. It’ll be awesome.”

Both players are excited to represent their organization.

“It’s been a homecoming experience playing for the Pacers,” said Oladipo, the former Indiana University star. “… I’m just happy for the state of Indiana. I feel like I get to represent them, even though there’s some Boilermakers and Bulldogs who are forced to like me now … I’m just honored I can represent them.”

Wow my first all-star game. Words can’t describe how humbled I am to represent the Indiana Pacers as an … https://t.co/V44o8DacJj

Oladipo was drafted by LeBron James in the first All-Star draft in this year’s revamped format and will play with former teammate Russell Westbrook as well as James, Boogie Cousins, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant and others.

I would put every dollar I own on Team LeBron here. Did Steph Curry screw up and accidentally autodraft? pic.twitter.com/rA40NOJwOM